Beacon Center Reveals Itself At State Policy Network Conference

Beacon Center Reveals Itself At State Policy Network Conference

Nashville October 3, 2016

The Beacon Center is the “Host Think Tank” for the State Policy Network Annual Meeting in Nashville on Oct. 3. State Policy Network has affiliates in almost every state, and they advocate for ALEC model legislation across the country, according to the Center for Media and Democracy.

The State Policy Network conference is sponsored by ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, who create policies we are familiar with in Tennessee, like pre-empting local governments from raising the minimum wage.

The Beacon Center reveals themselves by advertising their sponsors for this year’s “A Night in Music City.” Among them are:

K12, Inc, a for profit education company criticized for poor performance in Tennessee.

The Atlas Network, which has been linked to climate change denying organizations across the world, and is a self described partner of ALEC, Americans for Prosperity, the Ayn Rand Institute and the Beacon Center.

Direct Edge, a Republican consulting firm founded by two men with ties to two Koch connected organizations, the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and Americans for Prosperity (AFP).

And the Charles Koch Institute, one of the many Koch brothers foundations.

“It is important for Tennesseans to know that the Beacon Center is connected to a nationwide network of special interests and is affiliated with State Policy Network, a group that has ties to ALEC and the Koch Brothers organizations and will always put their priorities ahead of the working families in Nashville.” - President Vonda McDaniel, Nashville and Middle Tennessee Central Labor Council